North America’s first Islamic Waldorf-Inspired early childhood education institute dedicated to reviving traditional Islamic pedagogy and tarbiyah
The heart of a child is like fertile soil; whatever is planted in it will grow.
At Zāwiya, Islamic pedagogy combined with aspects of the Waldorf Steiner philosophy creates a uniquely engaging program resonating with the child’s uninhibited sense of awe and wonder. Our pedagogy seeks to cultivate the child’s pure fitrah and innate sense of the sacred in the world.
Our curriculum focuses on the young child's formative experiences of bodily exploration, creative play, oral language through story and song, adopting healthy rhythms and being in nature. The bilingual English and Arabic curriculum nurtures religious practice, reverence for Allah and His creation, Qur’anic recitation, stories, about the Prophets and crafts inspired by traditional Islamic arts.
At Zāwiya, the teacher is first a murabbiyah, a 'nurturer of souls,’ and a muaddibah, a ‘model of excellent comportment’, and then, a mu’allimah, a 'transmitter of knowledge.’ Murabbiyat seek to encourage the child's natural sense of wonder, belief in goodness, and love of sacred beauty, as manifested by Allah and His Noble Prophet ﷺ.
"The mother is a school; if you prepare her well, you prepare a nation with strong roots."
This three-day intensive workshop for mothers and early childhood educators will dive deep into the heart of Islamic tarbiyah and education, drawing from the wisdom of both the Prophetic tradition and the Waldorf education philosophy. We will explore key themes such as the nature of the fitrah, the pillars of childhood, the profound importance of wonder, play, and a family/school spiritual culture. You will learn how to create an environment of spiritual nourishment, to model positive relationships, to foster the independence and responsibility that help children thrive, and to shape and guide your children’s development through love, patience, and wisdom within the framework of Prophetic mercy. Hands-on workshops led by the instructors will impart practical skills easily adopted in the home and classroom.
